Tranquilizing device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a therapeutic device which serves to tranquilize the user by the effect of a timed presentation of a varying size colored image and more particularly includes an internally illuminated cylinder having a pair of spaced triangular openings covered with different colored translucent sheets which are successively moved past a viewing opening to be observed by the viewer.

United States Patent 1191 Derouineau [54] TRANQUILIZING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Rene Derouineau, Moulirrde Pelissey, Gradignan, France 221 Filed: Feb.3, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 112,183

301 Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 11, 1970 France 7004759 [52] U.S. Cl 128/1 C, 35/1, 40/33 [51] Int. Cl ..A61h 5/00, F21p 3/00, 6091' 11/10 [58], Field of Search ..40/33; 128/1 C; 35/1 {561 I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,537,198 11/1970 Barrett ..40/33 X 2,791,9'9 8 5/1957 Decker 2,733,528 2/1956 Miller ct a1. ..40/33 X 1 1 Mar. 27, 1973 3,470,870 10/1969 Schoffer ..12s 1c FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 670,789 4 1952 GreatBritain ..1'2s 1c 526248 I 7 1940 GreatBrltaini... .....12s/1c 13,391 3 1911 France ..40 33 Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell AsSistantExaminer-JQhn F. Pitrelli Attorney-Arthur B. Colvin [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a therapeutic device which serves to tranquilize the user by the effect of a timed presentation of a varying size colored image and more particularly includes an internally illuminated cylinder having a pair of spaced triangular openings covered with different colored translucent sheets which are successively moved past a viewing opening to be observed by the viewer.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIED 3,722,501

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3 INVENTOR.

RENE DEROUINEAU ATTORNEY PATENTFUHARZYIUYS $722,501

SHEET 2 BF 2 RENE, DEROUINIQAU TRANQUILIZING DEVICE As conducive to an understanding of the invention, it is noted that the rapid pace of modern life; the agitation, noise, etc., have an extremely harmful effect on the nervous system of individuals.

The consequences are diverse and often disastrous, i.e., nervous fatigue, insomnia, stomach aches, hypertension and the like may result. To solve such problems, the individual often resorts to chemical tranquilizer pills which may have more serious side effects than the malady they are attempting to cure by reason of their side effects on the body and nervous system.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a relatively simple device which has but few parts and may readily be fabricated at relatively low cost, and which may be used by any mature individual with no previous training and which makes use of the psychological effects of certain colors to provide a relaxing stimulus to an observer.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type which can be used with known methods of rythmic breathing to provide in addition to a programmed breathing schedule the soothing effects of different color presentations to the observer.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and more particularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the device;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the device, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, taken alone line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cylinder and light source.

Referring now to the drawings, the device comprises a casing I mounted on a base 2, the front of the casing having a substantially rectangular opening as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which a translucent rectangular panel 4, preferably of plastic, is mounted.

Positioned in the casing is a substantially U-shaped support bracket 3, the base 3' of which is secured to the floor of the casing and the legs 3a, 3b of which rise vertically from said base 3 as shown in FIG. 4.

A slow speed electric motor 6 is mounted on the leg 3a adjacent its mid portion, the drive shaft of said motor being keyed to one end of a horizontal shaft 11, the other end of which is rotatably mounted in a bearing carried by leg 3b.

Mounted on shaft 11 is a cylinder 7 having a wall at one end and open at its other end 5. The wall 5 has an integral outwardly extending axial hub through which shaft 11 extends, the hub being secured to the shaft by set screw so that the rotation of the motor will rotate the cylinder.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cylinder has two diametrically opposed openings 8, 8' centrally located thereon and positioned so as to be aligned with the rectangular translucent panel 4 in the front wall of the casing.

The openings 8 are triangular in shape with their apices 8a being directed toward each other as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Each of the triangular openings 8 has a base of width greater than the length of the rectangular panel 4, such openings preferably being in the form of an equilateral triangle.

One of the openings 8 is covered by a translucent green sheet G and the other opening 8' is covered by a translucent blue sheet B.

Mounted on the leg 3b of the support 3 is a holder for an electric lamp or bulb 9, the latter extending inwardly through the open end 5' of the cylinder into alignment with the openings 8.

In the operation of the device, the lamp 9 is first energized and then the motor 6 is energized. The cylinder 7 will rotate slowly about its axis. As a result, assuming that the apex 8a of opening 8 starts to move downwardly into the field of translucent panel 4 aligned with the vertical center line of said panel, there will appear on the panel 4 the beginning of a luminous green image which, because of the shape of the triangular openings, will grow until it completely covers the panel 4.

Thereupon, as the opening 8 moves downwardly with respect to panel 4, the solid or opaque portion 0 of the cylinder 7 will be in alignment with panel 7 to stop passage of light therethrough.

With continued rotation of cylinder 7, the base or widest portion of the opening 8' will start to move downwardly into the field of panel 4 aligned with the vertical center line of said panel. Thus, a luminous blue image will appear which will first completely cover the panel and then narrow due to the triangular configuration of the opening until the blue image disappears and the solid or opaque portion 0 of the cylinder 7 is in alignment with panel 4.

In the use of the device, as a tranquilizer, the patient must sit in a dark room facing the screen or panel 4 and must adjust his breathing to the device.

Thus, for example, the patient must:

a. inhale as the green color appears in proportion to the growth of the colored image;

b. the patient must hold his breath for the duration of the period when no color appears.

c. The patient must exhale in proportion to the diminishment of the blue color which is large at the start and tapers off as the cylinder rotates;

d. The patient must hold his breath for the duration of the next period when no color appears.

It is apparent that by varying the speed of motor 6, the number of respirations per minute can be regulated. However, in the average use, the speed may be regulated so that the patient will inhale and exhale four or five times a minute according to the following rhythm:

4/12 of the total time inhalation on green;

2/12 of the total time holding breath;

5/12 of the total time exhalation on blue;

1/12 of the total time holding breath.

The device can also be used to induce sleep. For such use the procedure is substantially the same as above described, except that the person must lie in bed and merely look at the screen 4 without using the breathing rhythm.

The appearance and disappearance of the colors appears to have a soothing effect which induces sleep.

When used for such purpose, a conventional timer can be associated with the power source to the motor 6 and lamp 9 to de-energize them after a given period of time.

It is apparent that the device can be utilized in the form shown or for projection on a screen.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A therapeutic device comprising a housing having a viewing aperture, movable means in said housing having a plurality of different configurations, each of the configurations being in the form of a triangle having equal base angles, means to actuate said movable means successively to move different configurations into alignment with the viewing aperture for observance by a patient, at least twoidentical configurations being provided, each having a translucent sheet thereon, at least two of the sheets being of different colors and means to illuminate the configuration covered by the associated sheet when in alignment with the viewing aperture.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which at least one of said two identical configurations is covered by a green sheet and the other by a blue sheet.

3. A therapeutic device comprising a housing having a viewing aperture, a cylinder in said housing mounted on a horizontal axis substantially transversely aligned with said viewing aperture, said cylinder having a pair of diametrically opposed openings therethrough, each of said openings being in the form of a triangle having a base with equal base angles, the apices of said triangles being directed toward each other and extending along a line that is transversely aligned with the center of said viewing aperture, and means to rotate said cylinder successively to move said openings into alignment with said viewing aperture for observance by a patient.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said viewing aperture is substantially rectangular, of greater width than height with the major axis of said aperture extending parallel to the horizontal axis of said cylinder.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said viewing aperture is substantially rectangular, of greater width than height with the major axis of said aperture extending parallel to the horizontal axis of said cylinder, the base of each of said triangles being of greater length than the length of said rectangular aperture.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which one of said apertures is covered by a translucent green sheet and the other of said apertures is covered by a translucent blue sheet and said viewing aperture has a translucent panel positioned therein.

' The combination Thecombination set forth in claim 3 in which means are provided to illuminate the interior of said cylinder. 

1. A therapeutic device comprising a housing having a viewing aperture, movable means in said housing having a plurality of different configurations, each of the configurations being in the form of a triangle having equal base angles, means to actuate said movable means successively to move different configurations into alignment with the viewing aperture for observance by a patient, at least two identical configurations being provided, each having a translucent sheet thereon, at least two of the sheets being of different colors and means to illuminate the configuration covered by the associated sheet when in alignment with the viewing aperture.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which at least one of said two identical configurations is covered by a green sheet and the other by a blue sheet.
 3. A therapeutic device comprising a housing having a viewing aperture, a cylinder in said housing mounted on a horizontal axis substantially transversely aligned with said viewing aperture, said cylinder having a pair of diametrically opposed openings therethrough, each of said openings being in the form of a triangle having a base with equal base angles, the apices of said triangles being directed toward each other and extending along a line that is transversely aligned with the center of said viewing aperture, and means to rotate said cylinder successively to move said openings into alignment with said viewing aperture for observance by a patient.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said viewing aperture is substantially rectangular, of greater width than height with the major axis of said aperture extending parallel to the horizontal axis of said cylinder.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said viewing aperture is substantially rectangular, of greater width than height with the major axis of said aperture extending parallel to the horizontal axis of said cylinder, the base of each of said triangles being of greater length than the length of said rectangular aperture.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which one of said apertures is covered by a translucent green sheet and the other of said apertures is covered by a translucent blue sheet and said viewing aperture has a translucent panel positioned therein. The combination Thecombination set forth in claim 3 in which means are provided to illuminate the interior of said cylinder. 